Seven Indians Named Pirates Organization All-Stars

INDIANAPOLIS -- Outfielder Starling Marte, right-handed pitchers Gerrit Cole and Phil Irwin, left-handed pitcher Jeff Locke, infielder Brock Holt, designated hitter Matt Curry and catcher Tony Sanchez have all been named 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates Organization All-Stars by MiLB.com . Selections were made among the Pirates entire farm system and include one player for each fielding position, as well as a right-handed and left-handed starting pitcher, relief pitcher, designated hitter and utility player.

Marte appeared in 99 games with Indianapolis in 2012 and was the only member of the Tribe selected to both the Mid-Season and Postseason International League All-Star squads. During his tenure with the Indians, Marte hit .286 (111-for-388) with 21 doubles, 12 home runs and 62 RBI, while also tying for first among all Pirates farmhands with 13 triples. The outfielder swung a blistering bat through late June and early July, collecting hits in a season-high 15 consecutive games, a span in which he batted .382 (26-for-68). Marte was equally as impressive in the field, committing just one error in 240 total chances for a solid .996 fielding percentage.

Cole made his professional debut last season and quickly climbed the Pirates organization by going 5-1 with a 2.55 ERA (19 ER in 67.0 IP) for Hi-A Bradenton, followed by a 3-6 mark and 2.90 ERA (19 ER in 59.0 IP) for Double-A Altoona. The former No. 1 draft pick in the 2011 MLB Draft made one regular-season start for the Tribe on Sept. 1, working 6.0 innings in which he allowed three runs on six hits while walking one and fanning seven. In the victory, Cole surrendered all three runs in the opening frame, but recovered to toss 5.0 consecutive, scoreless innings.

Irwin, followed a similar path as Cole's, beginning the season with Hi-A Bradenton, where he went 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA (1 ER in 5.0 IP), before posting a 4-7 record with a 2.93 ERA (34 ER in 104.1 IP) for Double-A Altoona. The righty then slotted into the starting rotation for the Tribe on Aug. 18, going a perfect 3-0 while limiting opposing offenses to a 2.57 ERA (6 ER in 21.0 IP). Irwin's standout performance with Indianapolis came in a 5-0 win over Toledo on Aug. 28, when the hurler tossed 6.0 shutout innings against the Mud Hens.

Locke, went 10-5 for the Tribe while posting the third-lowest ERA (2.48) in the IL. The southpaw pitched more innings (141.2) than any other left-handed hurler in the Pirates system, and his 131 strikeouts were the third most by any pitcher in the Pirates organization. Locke, who was also named the Tribe's Most Valuable Starting Pitcher, was nearly unhittable following the All-Star break, going 3-1 with a 1.57 ERA (8 ER in 46.0 IP).

Holt, owned the second-best batting average (.322) and fifth-most hits (123) in the Eastern League prior to his promotion to Indianapolis on Aug. 7. Upon joining the Indians, the middle infielder continued his red-hot streak at the plate, pacing the entire IL with 41 base knocks in 24 contests from Aug. 7-31, a tear that was highlighted by 13 multi-hit performances and a 10-game hitting streak. Overall with the Tribe, Holt hit .432 (41-for-95) with seven doubles, a home run, nine RBI and five stolen bases, while also posting a .955 fielding percentage and helping turn nine double plays.

Curry, spent most of last season with Double-A Altoona where he blistered opposing pitching for a .285 batting average (113-for-396) that included 34 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs and 76 RBI. Following his promotion to the Tribe on Aug. 31, the slugger hit .400 (2-for-5) with a pair of RBI in two contests.

Sanchez, collected a .277 batting average (39-for-141) with 14 doubles, a triple and 17 RBI for Double-A Altoona, prior to making his Triple-A debut with the Indians on June 5. The slugger quickly found his stroke at the plate with the Tribe, blasting eight long balls in 62 games. The former No. 4 draft pick in the 2009 MLB Draft finished the season with a .233 average (48-for-206) with the Indians, and also gunned down 31 percent (18 of 40) of potential International League base-stealers.